--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200025 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:41pm \/To: MARC GERGES (Read 0 times) Subj: Forced Induction -=> Quoting Marc Gerges to Alan Morrison <=- AM>> I don't recall you saying what you have Marc; what is it? MG>> An 89 Citro n BX Turbo Diesel. It has 90 hp, and goes 115mph. MG> There's one for sale in Montana, I heard lately. One of 9 present MG> in the USA if I'm right :) MG> You should check in older ones: the BX was made from 82 to 93. If it's an aerodynamic looking rounded shape with covered headlamps and hydraulic suspension, I've seen them; just didn't know the model. MG> From 55-75 you got the DS, and starting about 71 the SM to (Car of the MG> Year 1972). And you got some 2CV's. MG> In 75 Citroen ceased the imports, but CX's were brought in by Andr MG> Pol. Around 1000 cars in 15 years. This must be what I've seen. San Diego had a few, although I can't recall seeing one around here in decades. MG>>> Hey, every car without a roof is fun to drive :-) AM>> Maybe you didn't see the 70's movie 'Smokey and the Bandit'! MG> Mmmmh... I definitely didn't miss anything :) 10-4 there, Citroen! We be gone. ;-) --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200026 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:49pm \/To: MARC GERGES (Read 0 times) Subj: Forced Induction -=> Quoting Marc Gerges to Alan Morrison <=- MG> I'm really amazed... they tell us about the 911 here, they compare it MG> with everything else on the road and praise it's wonderful brakes and MG> they forget to tell us there is a rather bargain Camaro out there that MG> stops better. I guess I'll write a letter to the next car magazine MG> testing brakes. I didn't realize they were that good... Just good. It seems Chevrolet really jumped on the bandwagon first when antilock brakes became a buzzword. GM developed a simpler system somewhat less expensive than the common Bosch setup, and installed it on all Chevys in '94. They evidently got a lot of brake testing during this time and now have vented discs, front and rear, on Vettes & F-bodies. MG> Right. But to be honest, a Porsche wouldn't get into my driveway, even MG> if I had the money. I just think back engines are outdated. F-Bodies MG> don't qualify either because of their live rear axles. A Corvette, MG> though... well, one could think about it :) Understood. I like the new Corvettes, but for the price don't mind the F-bodies at all. I've had several live axle cars and never had to service any of them, even after they were 15-20 years old. The only Vette I had much experience with was my best friends in high school. I only helped him work on it one time... to replace the rear axle joints! It was not a lot of fun, and we had to take the axles to a machine shop where they had a press. As for Porsches... they are ready for a total redesign. They look basically the same as they did 30 years ago. Still, it was a good design and has held up well. They still win a lot of races, and you can't say much bad about a car that hits 60 MPH in 3.7 seconds, runs 188 MPH top speed, and pulls .94 G, from the factory. The $164,000 price, though, can make many cars do that! --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200027 Date: 01/31/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:40pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying imports - Banks -=> Quoting TOM WALKER to ALAN MORRISON <=- AM-> On a related issue, can you tell me how many of the worlds ten AM-> largest banks (by assets) are US; Japanese; and Other? TW> Who Gives a DAMN!!! Everyone contemplating buying expensive Japanese products (like cars) should! But it's easier to just ignore it, rather than make an effort to learn where all the money has gone. In a sincere effort too educate those spending or recommending their purchase I'll list them; in order of ranking by assets: Rank/Company Country Assets (Millions) 1. Sanwa Bank Japan $588,349, 2. Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank Japan 587,773, 3. Fuji Bank Japan 577,107, 4. Sumitomo Bank Japan 571,942, 5. Sakura Bank Japan 565,381, 6. Mitsubishi Bank Japan 553,515, 7. Norinchukin Bank Japan 500,434, 8. Industrial Bank of Japan Japan 437,853, 9. Mitsubishi Trust &, Banking Corp. Japan 394,001, 10. Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan 375,515, Source: 1996 Universal Almanac, Andrews & McMeel > That's a (top 10 only) total of: $5,151,870,000,000 (Five Trillion, One Hundred Fifty One Billion, Eight Hundred Seventy Million, US Dollars) Add in the 7 other Japanese banks in the top 25 and you have more than enough to pay off our 5.5 Trillion Dollar national debt. A debt that causes US taxpayers to cough up over a Billion dollars each and every day, just to cover the interest payments! And each of these 25 banks has more than the US's largest bank. (The largest US bank is ranked... 26th!) Now do you get some idea of why we should 'give a damn'?? To see where all this money came from, see the subject line: Buying imports - BOT. ... TOYOTA - To Own Your Own, Trade-in America --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200028 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:58pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Chevrolet history 1 -=> Quoting TOM WALKER to ALAN MORRISON <=- TW> My reference claims that William C. Durant formed a company called TW> "General Motors" in 1908 but was ousted two years later, so he formed TW> Chevrolet in 1911, intending to make it a powerful lever to regain Interesting, and as far as I can tell, compatible with what I posted. BTW, it came from: http://www.chevrolet.com TW> control. It also mentions that Early Chevrolets were Largish TW> medium-price cars with six-cylinder and even V-8 Power. I was surprised to learn that the 1914 Chevy six would run 65 MPH! That was flying at the time... fast enough for Clyde Barrow! OK, he came along later... It does seem to indicate the Chevrolet brothers were still interested in speed. I guess you also read that they gained notoriety by designing 4-valve racing heads for early Ford 4 cylinders, which they raced. They had their first V8 in 1917/1918. I don't know why they stopped making them unless it didn't fit into the GM philosophy of Chevy being an entry level step into GM, since this was a fairly expensive model. I always wondered where the 'Bowtie' shape came from, and was delighted to learn it was inspired by a pattern of wallpaper in a Paris hotel room where Durant had visited. I just thought someone at Chevy wore bow ties! --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200029 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:58pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Chevrolet history 5 CHEVROLET HISTORY - PART FIVE 1976 Chevette - Chevy's first answer to the imports - introduced. 1977 Full-size Chevrolet Caprice is "downsized", wins Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" award. It quickly becomes America's favorite car. 1978 Corvette paces Indy 500. A special Silver Anniversary Corvette model is offered. All-new ''downsized'' Malibu is offered in a choice of sedan, coupe and wagon models. 1979 The 100-millionth Chevrolet is built ('79 Monza). 1980 The compact Citation, the first front-wheel-drive Chevrolet car, is introduced. 1981 First Cavalier introduced as an early 1982 model. Cavalier is designed to meet and exceed the expectations of foreign car buyers. Apparently, consumers agree. Cavalier becomes the overall best-selling car in America for the '84 and '85 calendar years. 1982 The redesigned 1982 Camaro is Motor Trend's ''Car of the Year.'' The Camaro Z28 paces Indy 500. S-10 Pickup introduced. 1983 S-10 Blazer introduced. Becomes America's number one sport utility vehicle. 1984 New-generation Corvette debuts. 1985 Camaro IROC-Z and Astro Van introduced. 1986 Corvette introduces Bosch ABS II antilock brakes, and convertible model paces Indy 500. "The Heartbeat of America" campaign debuts. 1987 Corsica and Beretta introduced as 1988 models. 1989 Geo, an import-inspired line of cars and SUVs, introduced. Lumina Coupe, Sedan and Lumina APV introduced as 1990 models. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200030 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:05pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying imports -=> Quoting TOM WALKER to ALAN MORRISON <=- TW> Didn't see the Corolla on your List for Toyota's. Was that because TW> 100% of those Sold in the US are Made here in California AM-> You say Made, but it is really Final Assembly. This plant contains AM-> workers, designers, and management from here and abroad. After all, AM-> it is a joint operation between Toyota and GM, not a GM plant. AM-> If you claim it is 100% US made, with 100% US components, or 100% US AM-> profits, you're way off base. Perhaps your left-coast/Pro-Japanese AM-> dogma needs some reevaluation! :^O TW> There is NO SUCH THING as a Car sold in the united States that is TW> 100$ Local Content. You don't have to SHOUT! You're getting spittle all over my MONITOR! So now you're Not claiming that 100% of Corollas Sold in the US are Made here in the US? Good, because some are imported from Japan, and some are assembled in Canada. And the drivetrain components are from Japan. The major components that are listed on the window stickers show that even the ones assembled here have the major parts from Japan. This includes the engines, and the transmissions on Corollas, as well as Geo Prizms. Open the hoods and you see everything on the engine is Japanese. The real feat accomplished by Toyota is their ability to make the uninformed believe these are American made! TW> In Fact some of the GM/FORD/CHRYSLER(NOT counting vehicles TW> from their Foreign operations) cars have LESS Local Content TW> then the Hondas and Toyotas assembled here. Now that we have established that they aren't "Made" here, but rather have some final assembly here, with major parts from Japan on Japanese makes, we're getting closer to the truth. Now, please define 'Local Content'. Is that your local, my local, or N. American? ___ I think if you work on these vehicles, or just snoop about under the dash, hood, etc. you'll begin to notice little Japanese stickers and casting marks. Go to the dealer for replacement parts and notice where they come from. Then on the few that are produced here by Toyota USA, or American Honda, ask yourself why we have Japanese companies producing parts Here, when they have continually refused to let US companies manufacture parts, or Cars, in Japan. WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc. -- The Second Annual Review of the 1995 U.S.-Japan Auto Agreement, held in San Francisco October 7-9, produced no progress toward deregulation or improved access to Japan's auto market, according to the October edition of the AAMA Japan Report. U.S. government officials had hoped that the meeting with their Japanese counterparts would result in new actions on deregulation and access to the Japanese market, said Marjory Searing, Acting U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Director-General. "Japan, however, was only prepared to discuss the past, not what actions are needed to ensure continued progress in the future," Seating said. The U.S. government's disappointment at the outcome of the Second Annual Review was echoed by Andrew H. Card, Jr., President & CEO of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. "The good news is that the U.S. government, supported by the European Union, Canada, and Australia delivered a strong and unmistakable message to Japan. That message is that the Japanese government must take concrete, proactive steps to deregulate and open its automotive market," Card said. Remember that the so called 'local' parts on the few Japanese nameplates that have some final assembly here are almost entirely manufactured by Japanese owned companies. A large part of the purchase price leaves the country. On GM F-bodies that have final assembly just across the border in Canada for example, the parts are manufactured by companies owned by GM. And the major components are from plants in the US. The money spent on these models stays here. ... HONDA - How Our Nations Debt Accumulated --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200031 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:53pm \/To: MIKE LALLAS (Read 0 times) Subj: Formulae -=> Quoting Mike Lallas to Devin Dimitri <=- DD> What's Volumetric Efficiency? I'm not a mechanic at all, so. ML> volumetric Efficiency is a measurement of how much air and ML> engine takes in as oppossed to how much it could take in ML> .7 means it takes in only 70% of what it could take in. ML> and yes pro race motors can and often exceed 100% Thanks, Mike! I wasn't sure how to explain exactly what VE is. I can find no problem with your response... works for me. / `:^o (scratching head) --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200032 Date: 01/29/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 11:24pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation -=> Quoting Roy Witt to Alan Morrison <=- AM> These required stops being setup at random times and places, AM> stopping everyone and asking for their papers just reminds AM> me too much of the Nazi war movies. RW> You too? But I don't see the relationship to requiring liability RW> insurance. Not the requirement, but the random stops and checkpoints. These may be in the name of catching drunk drivers, or a taillight out, or other 'judicious' reasoning. It seems to be a step towards outright papers examination without probable cause and leading to unreasonable searches and now (in NJ, FL, & LA) seizures. RW> Agreed. However, it still doesn't relate to requiring proof of RW> insurance at registration time. Sure, or at purchase. AM> .. -Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States- AM> The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, AM> papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, AM> shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon AM> probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly AM> describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to AM> be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. RW> All that'll get you is a "Uh-huh" from the cop and you'll find your RW> Constitutional rights being set aside, while he writes you a citation. RW> He has a right as an officer of the law, according to the State of RW> California, to stop you and ask for identification under any guise That's the problem... a 'guise'. This is sometimes blatant disregard for our rights guaranteed by the constitution. And it breeds more disrespect for authority, especially when the government can sieze your assets, or even imprison those without sufficient means to hire good council. The problem with this Asset Forfeiture stuff (started in the name of Zero Tolerance on drugs), is that they actually arrest the Assets! They have no constitutional rights and may not be returned even if you have proved yourself innocent of any charges. RW> that he cares to bring up. Tail light out, failure to signal, whatever RW> he wants to make it. They (California Cops) even stop people for not RW> wearing helmets on motorcycles and/or seat belts. Both were tried and RW> tested as un-constitutional and shot down by the courts... In the late eighties, when this zero-tolerance stuff started, a Cabin Cruiser was seized off San Diego shores for about three grams of pot. The owner was out for the day with friends and acquaintances when they were boarded. One of the occupants had brought just enough weed for a couple of joints. Little did he know what the outcome would be. I never heard if the owner got his property back. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200033 Date: 01/31/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:40pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying imports - BOT Balance of Trade With Japan - 1950 Thru 1995 This chart represents the Balance of Trade with Japan from 1950 to 1995. It was initially a balance in favor of the United States, which only makes good sense. We were busily engaged in helping the Japanese rebuild their country after the war, and, because of our bombing, their industry was in no shape to be exporting anything substantial, especially cars, ships, or aircraft. In 1961 the Japanese approached President Kennedy to ask his assistance in helping to resolve this "unfair" balance of trade problem. The President then asked our Trade Representative to see what could be done to aid the Japanese. At a Press Conference in mid-November, Kennedy praised the U.S. Trade negotiators for working out a satisfactory trade agreement with the Japanese. The results were not immediately apparent. It wasn't until 1965 that the balance of trade switched in favor of Japan. It has remained in their favor every year since 1965. - US $'s in Billions - 60 * 60 Billion . * . * 50 * * 50 . * * . * * 40 * * 40 . * * . * * 30 * * 30 . * * . * * 20 * * * 20 . * * * . * * * 10 * * * * 10 . * * * * . * * * * * 0 . . . . * * * * * * 0 1950 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 U.S. = . Japan = * In 1965 the Balance of trade with Japan switched over in favor of the Japanese. This was in accord with the wishes of President Kennedy, although he probably never dreamed of such an incredible imbalance. From 1945 to 1965 the balance of trade in favor of the United States averaged $315 Million per year. The balance of trade since 1965 has averaged in excess of $27 Billion per year, and is now running above $50 Billion per year, rapidly raising the annual average. What few people seem to remember is that soon after the trade agreement of 1961 several of the U.S. trade negotiators quit their jobs with our government and went to work for the Japanese. They became Lobbyists for Japan in Washington with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 year. What NO Japanese seem to remember is that we deliberately tried to work out a trade agreement TO HELP THEM. In particular the new 'tough' Premier of Japan seems determined to show the US how tough he can be in trade negotiations with us. They seem able to remember Hiroshima, but cannot recall Pearl Harbor. They appear to have forgotten how General MacArthur helped rebuild the Japanese economy; that no reparations were demanded from the Japanese after their surrender; that we allowed their Emperor to retain his position without any such thing as the Nuremburg Trials; or that we have provided the defense of their land for the past 50 years. (Reference: President Kennedy: Profile of Power, by Richard Reeves; pages 257/258 & 331/332.) Source -http://www.nationaldebt.com National Debt as of 8:00 AM 1/31/98 - - - - - - - $ 5,497,882,292,380 This currently increases about $700 Million Daily. ... MAZDA- Make America's Zillions Debt Accumulate --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2200034 Date: 02/01/98 From: PAT BREEDEN Time: 07:49am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Oil Captain's Log: StarDate=>>> (Sunday) February 1, 1998 2:50am I read an article once where they tested various popular brands of motor oil in N.Y. city cabs. After about a million or so miles they compared the wear and tear on the cabs to see which oil was better. The study concluded that as long as the oil had the starburst seal on it, one oil was just as good as another oil. This was regular motor oil and didn't mention anything about the synthetic type oils. ...Pat ... "We can rebuild him, we have the technology." - Oscar Goldman --- * TLX v4.10 * --- * Origin: WireHaired Terrier BBS (509)465-9525 FidoNet Node (1:346/5)